Colorado Christmas

Living on the other side of the country from your family can be a real drag during the holidays. To keep things fair, we try our best to split time evenly between both sides. The last couple of years however, I was pregnant, and then we had a tiny fragile Colden, and didn't want to bring him on an airplane in the dead of winter virus season...so we stayed here. This year it was time for a Christmas out west.

Since my parents visited us in November, they stashed a bevy of Christmas loot in the basement with instructions to open prior to flying home. Here are a few photos chronicling our little elf's second Christmas at Colden's House.

Very excited about his new wooden truck..

Bows double as teethers...did you know?

What's that kiddo?

Books!

That one's so cute perhaps we can tack it up on our Christmas card tree.

We flew to Colorado the morning of Christmas Eve. With snow in the forecast, a rather lengthy de-icing was part of our itinerary. Once airborne, I was so impressed with how Colden handled himself. The first flight he snoozed for almost its entirety; the second, he giggled and entertained all of our fellow passengers. I don't want to sound over-zealous, but I daresay we've gotten over any residual travel bumps- this kid flew like a champ.

Arriving in Denver, Santa Baby and Grammy reunite!

On the drive to Colorado Springs, Colden tried his first ever Chick-fil-a and looooved it. He managed to actually finish an entire waffle fry. I of course don't have any pictures because I was too busy inhaling my own. YUM.

In the few years that I actually lived in Colorado, I can recall only one White Christmas. It's just not how we do things. Coloradans prefer sunny blue skies with not a cloud in sight. We rang in our Christmas day afternoon with a walk to the park in my parents neighborhood. Picture Perfect.

He is sooo close to standing on his own...

For now, we sit and grin.

Shortly after Christmas day I came down with a wretched sickness that kept me feeling rotten the rest of the trip. With most of our plans cancelled, we spent a lot of time just playing at home. I don't think Colden minded at all...

Hit me, Papa.

Lots of snuggle time, too.

I even had time to rummage through a few old photos and found these gems. First cousins 10 yrs apart.

And a Christmas past.

So thankful to have been at home this year. Merry Christmas.